Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Washington, January 3 to 5, 2015

Name: Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Washington, January 3 to 5, 2015
Start: 2015-01-03T22:00
End: 2015-01-05T23:00
Location: Washington

January 3 to 5, 2015 · NWS OTX · 30 events in 8 counties and zones

A slow moving Pacific winter storm system moved through the region and dumped heavy snow initially late Saturday and into Sunday Jan 3rd and 4th. Later in the day Sunday Jan 4th the snow level rose and allowed for freezing rain to fall which, in addition to the heavy snow, brought ice accumulations which caused further nuisance for Sunday Jan 4th into Monday January 5th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 30

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OTX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Spokane, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 3, 9:34 PM PST, 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 3, 9:34 PM PST, 26 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
934 PM PST SAT JAN 3 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
A strong winter storm system system arrives late tonight through
Monday. There is the potential of heavy mountain and valley snows,
and a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain moving from south to
north across the Inland Northwest. Expect a trend toward drier and
warmer weather by the middle of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Evening update to increase PoPs and snow amounts to reflect the
earlier timing of the start of snowfall across the Inland
Northwest. Most webcams are showing light snow accumulating on
road surfaces. This is just the beginning of an extended winter
weather event that will continue throughout the weekend. /Kelch

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z...A moist Pacific storm system is bringing deteriorating
visibility and ceilings with the onset of -SN at most TAF sites
as of 06Z. Strong and moist ascent along a slow moving warm front
will promote universal IFR conditions in snow through 00Z Monday
at all TAF sites. After 00Z there may be a change from -SN to
-FZRA. Highest confidence in FZRA is for KMWH and KEAT. Lower
confidence in changeover at KLWS/KPUW. The KGEG- KCOE sites should
remain in -SN through 06Z. LLWS will be a concern at all TAF sites
after 03Z Monday. /EK

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane        21  29  29  38  34  40 /  70 100 100  80  60  40
Coeur d'Alene  23  29  29  37  35  39 /  90 100 100 100  90  50
Pullman        27  32  32  43  38  43 /  70 100 100 100  60  40
Lewiston       30  37  36  48  40  48 /  40 100 100  60  40  20
Colville       19  26  25  34  32  36 /  70 100 100  80  60  50
Sandpoint      21  25  23  34  32  35 /  90 100 100  90  90  70
Kellogg        22  27  27  34  34  37 / 100 100 100 100 100  60
Moses Lake     25  31  29  40  35  43 /  40  90  90  40  20  10
Wenatchee      24  29  29  44  36  42 /  40  90  90  50  20  10
Omak           21  28  25  36  32  40 /  60  90  90  50  50  20

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM Sunday to 4 PM PST Monday for
     Northern Panhandle.

     Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM Sunday to 4 AM PST Monday for
     Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM Sunday to 4 AM PST Monday for
     Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties.

     Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM Sunday to 4 AM PST Tuesday for
     Central Panhandle Mountains.

WA...Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM Sunday to 4 PM PST Monday for
     Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands.

     Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM Sunday to 4 AM PST Monday for
     Northeast Blue Mountains-Okanogan Valley-Spokane Area-
     Washington Palouse.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM Sunday to 4 AM PST Monday for
     Moses Lake Area-Upper Columbia Basin-Waterville Plateau-
     Wenatchee Area.

     Winter Storm Warning from Midnight tonight to 4 AM PST Monday
     for East Slopes Northern Cascades.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 3, 5:57 AM PST, 16 hours 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
557 AM PST SAT JAN 3 2015

IDZ001>004-WAZ031-033-036>038-042-041400-
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-COEUR D'ALENE AREA-IDAHO PALOUSE-
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS-
WASHINGTON PALOUSE-SPOKANE AREA-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-
OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-
557 AM PST SAT JAN 3 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH IDAHO...
NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON...NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND SOUTHEAST
WASHINGTON.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT A WINTER STORM WILL ARRIVE SUNDAY MORNING
AND LAST THROUGH MONDAY. THIS STORM WILL RESULT IN HEAVY SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS TO THE MOUNTAINS AND POSSIBLY TO THE VALLEYS. THERE
IS SOME POSSIBILITY FOR FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET...OR A WINTRY
MIX...IN THE VALLEYS AS WELL. CONFIDENCE IS MODERATE REGARDING
AMOUNTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IN THE VALLEYS WITH A HIGHER
CONFIDENCE OF HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW. TRAVEL IMPACTS ARE LIKELY
ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

IDZ026-027-WAZ032-034-035-041-043-044-041400-
LEWISTON AREA-LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-
LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES-MOSES LAKE AREA-
UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-WENATCHEE AREA-OKANOGAN VALLEY-
WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
557 AM PST SAT JAN 3 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
IDAHO...CENTRAL WASHINGTON...EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON...NORTH
CENTRAL WASHINGTON AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT A WINTER STORM WILL ARRIVE SUNDAY MORNING
AND LAST THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. THIS STORM WILL RESULT IN LIGHT
TO MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...AS WELL AS A MIXTURE OF FREEZING
RAIN AND SLEET...ESPECIALLY IN THE DEEP COLUMBIA BASIN. MOST LOW
ELEVATION LOCATIONS WILL CHANGE OVER TO RAIN ON MONDAY. CONFIDENCE
IS LOW REGARDING PRECISE SNOW AND ICE AMOUNTS. TRAVEL IMPACTS ARE
LIKELY.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 heavy snow, 9 winter weather, 1 ice storm, 1 winter storm, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 11:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP Observer reported 8.0 inches of snow in Stehekin, Washington.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 1:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 7.7 inches of new snow 8 miles southeast of Northport, Washington.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 1:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 8.5 inches of snow 1 mile East Northeast of Metaline, WA.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 9:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP Observer reported 9.0 inches of snow at Holden Village, WA.

Winter Weather, Spokane Area

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Spokane Area forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.599, -117.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 3.5 inches of snow 6 miles South of Spokane, WA.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 1:00 PM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter reported 5.3 inches of snow 10 miles Northwest of Kettle Falls, WA.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 1:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 4.5 inches of snow 5 miles northeast of Loon Lake, WA.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 8.5 inches of snow in Southwest Metaline Falls, WA.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 1:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

COOP Observer reported 9.0 inches of snow at Boundary Dam, WA.

Winter Weather, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 3 inches of snow 4 miles Northeast of Deer Park, WA.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 1:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

COOP Observer reported 6 inches of snow at Albeni Falls, WA.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

COOP Observer reported 7.3 inches of snow at Northport, WA.

Winter Weather, Spokane Area

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 7:00 AM PST
Where: Spokane Area forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 47.599, -117.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The NWS Spokane, WA office reported 3.4 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 5 inches of snow 6 miles northeast of Elk, WA.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 6.1 inches of snow 6 miles west of Newport, WA.

Heavy Snow, Spokane Area

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 7:00 AM PST
Where: Spokane Area forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 47.599, -117.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Facebook post noted 4.5 inches of snow at Medical Lake, WA.

Heavy Snow, Spokane Area

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 7:00 AM PST
Where: Spokane Area forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 47.599, -117.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Facebook post noted 6 inches of snow at Colbert, WA.

Heavy Snow, Spokane Area

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 7:00 AM PST
Where: Spokane Area forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.599, -117.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Public reported 4.5 inches of snow with some light freezing rain at Tyler, WA.

Heavy Snow, Spokane Area

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 10:00 AM PST
Where: Spokane Area forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 47.599, -117.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A Facebook post noted 10 inches of snow at Newman Lake, WA.

Winter Weather, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP Observer reported 4.9 inches of snow at Mazama, WA.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Highlands

When: January 3, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 10:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 48.510, -119.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Amateur Radio reported 5.3 inches of snow at Boyds, WA.

Winter Weather, Washington Palouse

When: January 3, 11:00 PM PST to January 5, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Washington Palouse forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.261, -117.463 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 3.6 inches of snow in Southeast Thornton, WA.

Winter Weather, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 4, 1:00 AM PST to January 5, 9:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter reported 0.10 inches of freezing rain 3 miles west of Chelan, WA.

Winter Weather, Wenatchee Area

When: January 4, 1:00 AM PST to January 5, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Wenatchee Area forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.802, -120.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter reported 1.6 inches of snow 5 miles south of Wenatchee, WA.

Heavy Snow, Washington Palouse

When: January 4, 1:00 AM PST to January 5, 12:00 AM PST
Where: Washington Palouse forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.261, -117.463 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

COOP Observer reported 5.5 inches of snow at Rosalia, WA.

Winter Weather, Northeast Blue Mountains

When: January 4, 3:00 AM PST to January 5, 7:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Blue Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.312, -117.374 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

COOP Observer reported 4.0 inches of snow in Field Spring State Park, WA.

Ice Storm, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 4, 8:00 PM PST to January 5, 5:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Emergency Manager reported at least 1 inch ice on 2 inches of snow bringing down branches and power-lines in Leavenworth, WA.

Winter Storm, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 10:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter 3 miles northwest of Mazama, WA reported 0.50 inches of freezing rain.

Winter Weather, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 4, 10:00 PM PST to January 5, 9:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Public report of .10 inches of freezing rain 5 miles North of Winthrop, WA.

Flood, Chelan

When: January 5, 12:00 PM PST to 11:00 PM PST
Where: Chelan County, 1.46 mi SW of Leavenworth to 1.43 mi SW of Leavenworth
Cause: Ice Jam
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 47.588, -120.676

Newspaper posted two photos and narrative on their Facebook page showing a structure used to store rafting equipment being flooded. Comments to the post note that the flooding is from rain, slush and melting snow and ice as the structure is in a natural depression near a mountain.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Washington in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, January 2015

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 547051, 547061, 547062, 547064, 547065, 547066, 547067, 547069, 547071, 547072, 547075, 547082, 547083, 547084, 547085, 547086, 547089, 547090, 547091, 547124, 547895, 547073, 547063, 547070, 547076, 547077, 547052, 547053, 547074, 547133.